Medfield Green Offers Rain Barrels at Discounted Price

Medfield Green has partnered with the Great American Rain Barrel Company in Hyde Park to offer rain barrels -- recycled from 6o gallon shipping drums -- to Medfield residents at a discount price to
help conserve water and save money.   

Outdoor water usage in New England can increase up to 60 percent in the summer as homeowners water plants and lawns, fill pools and wash their cars.  A rain barrel can offset that usage, save homeowners
money and energy, and help the community manage its water supplies. 

“We are bringing rain barrels to Medfield to help homeowners bring down their water costs and help our community protect their aquifers,” says Michele Stahl, president of Medfield Green.

“With uncertain weather patterns, residents are realizing that they need to save every drop of rain. Rain barrels are also an effective way to eliminate waste from our water supplies and help homeowners manage their water usage; we hope to see one at every downspout in Medfield.”

Rain barrels are available in green, brown or gray for a special discounted price of $69 (versus the retail price of $119) and are on display every Thursday at the Medfield Farmers’ Market.

Barrels must be ordered by July 15 and will be available for pickup at the Town Garage on July 19.

Each UV protected polyethylene rain barrel is manufactured in the USA from a recycled shipping drum that stands 39 inches tall by 24 inches wide and weighs 20 pounds (when empty) with a wall thickness of three-sixteenth inches.

The barrel comes complete with overflow fittings, drain plug, screw-on cover, a threaded spigot with a choice of two ports to use with either a watering can or a garden hose, and simple instructions for fast and easy installation.  

How it works:

New  England typically receives 16 inches of rain from May 1 to September 30. 

For every inch of rainfall, a 1,000 square foot surface can collect 620 gallons of water which means that an average roof of 2,400 square feet could see more than 20,000 gallons of fresh rainwater splashing over its surface during that time period. 

Based on the average roof size, more than two 60 gallon rain barrels would fill for every one-tenth inch of rainfall.

The Great American Rain Barrel Company recommends one barrel for every 100 square feet garden as it takes approximately 1,700 gallons of water to keep a 10 foot by 10 foot garden irrigated during the summer months.

Rain barrels can also reduce runoff. 

In watershed areas, runoff from homes and developments can harm existing water sources because overtaxed storm sewers discharge polluted runoff. Over time, this takes a toll on the fragile aquatic ecosystem on which the area is dependent.

To take advantage of this community program discount, click here or call 800-251-2352.  The deadline for ordering is July 15 at 5 p.m. and barrels will be available for pick up at the Town Garage (Route 27) on July 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.